“It does not matter how small the sins are provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the Light and out into the Nothing. Murder is no better than cards if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to Hell is the gradual one— the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

26 August 2014

"Now listen to the first three aims of the corporatist movement in Germany, Italy and France during the 1920s. These were developed by the people who went on to become part of the Fascist experience:

shift power directly to economic and social interest groups;

push entrepreneurial initiative in areas normally reserved for public bodies;

obliterate the boundaries between public and private interest -- that is, challenge the very idea of the public interest.

This sounds like the official program of most contemporary Western governments.”

John Ralston Saul, The Unconscious Civilization

Wall Street was mighty pleased that the cash SP 500 market managed to squeeze out a close over 2,000 for the first time ever. Huzzah. As you can see from the chart, the SP futures markets did not stick a close over that magic wash and rinse number.

There was intraday commentary about the two markets that exist in the US today. One market is for the wealthy and powerful, who often act with privileged information, in secret, and selective enforcement of law. And there is another market for everyone else.

If you are a wealthy insider, you are allowed to see the 'real' market prices. And if you are not, you get to see the market which they wish you to see. This has been designed into the system. This is not some theory. This is what exists today. There are more twists and turns to this, with asymmetric access to information becoming institutionalized. But this is a nice example.

And if you wish to know which class of citizen you are, then chances are extremely high that you are drinking from the fountain reserved for 'other' whether you realize it or not. Just be thankful for what they may give you. As a scam it is so simple that it is almost perfect: brazen, blatant, effective.

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Need Little - Want Less - Love More

The Banks must be restrained, and the financial system reformed, with balance restored to the economy, before there can be any sustainable recovery.

Welcome to Jesse's Café Américain - These are personal observations about the economy and the markets. In providing information, I hope this allows you to make your own decisions in an informed manner, even if it is from learning by my mistakes, which are many. As a standing policy I never provide individual investment advice to anyone. I will only occasionally disclose my personal positions for purposes of illustration. Understand that my own circumstances could differ greatly from your own, and therefore what is suitable for me may not be suitable for you. My comments are intended to be reflection on general macro financial and economic events and trends.